Free heating, electricity and hot water - oh the joys
@destry (2572)
Kirkwall, Scotland
May 4, 2018 3:26am CST
As I sit here, I have two electricians tinkering away in my bathroom. We have been waiting for an age to have a new boiler fitted for our hot water... This is no ordinary hot water boiler, as this heats water for free!
We live on a small island among a group of small islands in the North Sea, and it is very very windy here - so a lot of wind power is created, more power is created than the Nation Grid can handle - so, the wind turbines that create this wind power divert unused electricity into homes upon the islands.
Yesterday, we had radiators fitted that use this free wind power, and today, we are being hooked up to a free hot water boiler.
All this free energy, heating and hot water is fantastic, not only free but clean and renewable :)
23 people like this
20 responses
@GardenGerty (160612)
• United States
4 May 18
I am in a windy enough place I wish I was on this kind of set up.
5 people like this
@destry (2572)
• Kirkwall, Scotland
4 May 18
We are not fully off grid, we couldn't be without our internet connection! We are off grid for water and sewage, semi off grid for electricity and heating... But, still connected to mains electricity if we need it - as a back up. We did want to go fully off grid, but, it is easier and cheaper to keep the electrical cocnnection than removing it.
4 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
4 May 18
That is fantastic @destry . Out here on my property I'd love to have a wind turbin and a water well but it would cost $30,000 to have it done.
2 people like this
@destry (2572)
• Kirkwall, Scotland
4 May 18
They are pricey to install indeed. Luckily, we are tapped into a "community" turbine - it sells to the grid, and any surplus, plus profits get divided amongst the islanders. We are really lucky to have such a scheme.
We thought about erecting our own, or having solar panels installed - but, far too expensive!
2 people like this
@destry (2572)
• Kirkwall, Scotland
4 May 18
@lnillerman It's an amazing island indeed.... It's tough though, one small shop that relies on the ferry (often cancelled due to storms), so you have to prepare and stock pile things you need.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
5 May 18
That's wonderful. Our renewable energy here is not free. It saves some people money because the government subsidizes solar and maybe wind, but without subsidies it would probably cost more to get it installed. Sounds ideal for your situation, though.
@moffittjc (121546)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 May 18
I wish the United States would wise up and pursue clean energy policies! I live in Florida, where there is abundant sunshine year round. We could easily generate half our electricity needs by using solar power, if the government would just invest in creating more solar panels for people to install on their homes.
I'm very envious that you get free electricity!
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
4 May 18
That is wonderful to hear as so much can be done to make life easier. Enjoy! 
@JESSY3236 (19912)
• United States
4 May 18
cool. it sometimes get windy here, I wish we had wind power.
@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
4 May 18
That's it, I'm moving to your Island. Energy should be renewable without environmental hazards and it should be fee.
Energy should be renewable without environmental hazards and it should be fee.
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
4 May 18
That sounds really amazing....so the electricity bill is cheap I suppose as you have abundant electricity..
